Thursday, August 21, 2014

Former Brevard County Commission Candidate Arrested

MELBOURNE, Florida -- The Brevard County Sheriff’s Office, Economic Crimes Task Force has culminated
an investigation into an alleged organized theft ring today by obtaining arrest warrants for
the suspects, which included a former Brevard County Commissioner candidate.

Agents arrested 50-year-old Lisa McDermott and 59-year-old
James McDermott of 2231 Canterbury Lane, Melbourne. Both were charged with
Racketeering, Money Laundering and Dealing in Stolen Property and
are currently being held at the Brevard County Jail on a $65,000 Bond.

Also arrested was 79-year-old Leonard Greenberg, of Melbourne, who
was charged with Racketeering, Dealing in Stolen Property and
Organized Retail Theft. Greenberg is currently incarcerated at the County
Jail on a $65,000 Bond status. Previously arrested was 60-year-old
Thierry Lettiere, who is currently incarcerated in the Florida Department
of Corrections after recently being sentenced to five years for retail theft. He will be
extradited to Brevard County on new charges related to this investigation.
Two other alleged participants involved in the theft and trafficking of health products, are being
actively sought by Agents. They are identified as 29-year-old Brandon Lettiere and
55-year-old Susan Lovell.

The investigation was initiated in April of 2013 after the Sheriff’s Office received
several reports of the theft of large amounts of health products from local retailers.
Investigators say that they were able to identify a cooperating individual who provided information
that individuals were allegedly stealing large amounts of health products that were then being
taken to a business in West Melbourne known as the Ice Cream Depot. Investigators
determined that the business was owned by Lisa and James McDermott and that the
individuals involved in the theft were allegedly directed by James McDermott to specific areas
of the state to steal specific items. The products were then stolen and brought to the
business where the transactions would be completed.

Surveillance was set up on the business where agents were able to observe suspects
arrive at the business and enter carrying large bags with stolen items, stay inside
the business for a brief period of time and then exit the business without the stolen
products. The investigation included two controlled deliveries of merchandise valued at
over $1000.00, which investigators say the McDermotts believed was stolen and purchased.

Investigators learned that once the items were purchased, they were either placed
on eBay for sale or sold to specific individuals who paid for the health products via
PayPal. Financial records were obtained from both EBay and PayPal that showed the
McDermotts received over $111,000 dollars from the sale of health products via PayPal
between November 2012 and June 2014. An examination of these records and records
from accounts in the name of Lisa McDermott identified that monies from the PayPal
account were then transferred and commingled with monies in two personal accounts of
Lisa McDermott. One account being opened at the time Lisa McDermott announced her
run for the Brevard County Commission.

In June of 2014, the Economic Crimes Task Force served a search warrant at the Ice
Cream Depot. Seized during the execution of the search warrant were health products
along with computers. Investigators say that a forensic examination of the computers provided further
evidence of the illicit sale of health products.

Lisa McDermott, a strong supporter of the Economic Development Commission of Florida's Space Coast on the campaign trail, withdrew from the Brevard County Commission District 4 race after the search warrant was served at the Ice Cream Depot. She had since thrown her support to Greg Jones in the District 4 race.

The Economic Crimes Task Force is comprised of investigators from the Sheriff’s Office,
Titusville Police Department, Melbourne Police Department and the Brevard County
State Attorney Office.

Anyone with information about this investigation is asked to call Agent Chris Shephard
or Agent Robert Fisher of the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office Economic Crime Unit
at 321-633-8410 or CRIMELINE at 1-800-423-TIPS (8477).

All calls to CRIMELINE
are confidential, and callers can remain anonymous and be eligible for a reward for
information leading to an arrest.